Stories about Politics from December, 2021
2021 in retrospective: Authoritarian practices threatened journalists and restricted media freedom in South Asia
In this retrospective, we will review issues of online and press freedom, censorship, the safety of journalists and digital rights in South Asia that we covered during the year.
How did Vietnam do on human rights in 2021?
"As 2021 draws to a close, we ask that the international human rights community remain vigilant and continue working with their respective governments to demand that Vietnam respect its international obligations."
Arrest of activist Khurram Parvez shows ‘a new hostility towards civil society in Kashmir’
Arrested and charged under the much-criticized Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for “terror-funding” and “conspiracy,” Khurram’ Parvez's internationally acclaimed body of work is being tarnished by allegations of terrorism.
Myanmar’s ‘silent strike’ delivers loud condemnation of continuing military rule
"The people showed that the revolution and popular defiance of the military council have not lost momentum."
St Lucia announces it will host a ‘vaxxed’ Carnival in 2022, but is it realistic?
"We have to ensure that we preserve the health of St. Lucia while creating an economic activity for our people to benefit from.”
How new generations are reinventing antifascism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
"How can we truly recognize manifestations of fascism and antifascism in societies that are free from direct physical conflict, where the definition of the 'other side' is becoming progressively more blurry ... ?"
How ‘cyber troops’ influence Indonesia's politics, policies, and media landscape
"For citizens, in general, I think people need to learn more — to be more skeptical with what is viral on social media." - Indonesian digital media researcher Wijayanto.
High infection, low vaccination—could mandatory COVID-19 vaccines be the answer for Caribbean nations?
"Having demonstrated that mandatory vaccination is constitutionally appropriate given the leeway granted in favour of public health imperatives, [...] employers could justify a requirement in a pandemic context."
The US government confirms diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
The US government announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, citing concern over “egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang.” More countries will likely follow.
Undertones: A deep-dive into Indian hyper-nationalism
Any critique of the government, the armed forces, or the Hindu religion and its socio-political project, known as Hindutva, is labeled “sedition,” and is treated as treason for attacking the sovereignty of India.
Death and destruction as former allies faced off in central Somalia
After one month of military buildup along the road that connects Guriel to the State Capital, Dhusamareb, the war broke out on October 23, killing over 100 people and injuring around 400 others.
Citizens start clean-up and recovery efforts after protests and riots in Solomon Islands
"We bring hardships and struggles upon ourselves, our family members, relatives and community members by involving in unlawful activities like riots, arson and looting."
Hong Kong authorities warn against boycott campaigns over low voter interest ahead of Legislative Elections
Hong Kong Legislative Council elections will take place on 19 December 2021. Law enforcement authorities have warned against election boycott campaigns.
Post-COP26, a Caribbean view on climate injustice and ‘1.5 to stay alive’
What has the Caribbean, on the frontline of the climate crisis, gained now that COP26 is over? We speak with Yves Renard of Panos Caribbean, who shares some fascinating insights.
Belarus, transformed: political analysts track social and political change in the country
"The Belarusians have re-envisioned their national identity, giving birth to a new civil society and reformatting social processes that generate new patterns of behavior."
Indonesian police arrested students who raised banned ‘Papuan Independence Day’ flag
December 1, 2021, unofficially considered West Papua Independence Day, marked the 60th anniversary of when Papuans first flew the Morning Star flag in a bid for independence from the Dutch.
Protest in support of jailed opposition activist in Baku turns violent
Scores of activists gathered in the capital Baku to protest the unlawful imprisonment of political prisoner Saleh Rustamov, demanding his immediate release. Rustamov himself is on hunger strike since November 6.
Colonial prejudices and vaccine nationalism drive COVID-19 African travel bans
Omicron has spread to many countries, but most Western countries red-listed only southern African countries. This is reflective of the colonial stereotyping of Africans as savages from a diseased continent.
Armenia’s ex-president Serzh Sargsyan faces bribery charges
The ex-president charged with bribery, in what his lawyer describes as an an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing political and military crisis between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Georgian Communications Commission levies fines on TV channels for ‘political’ content
The Georgian National Communications Commission has fined several TV stations for airing "political" content outside of an electoral campaign period. Some have criticised the fines as disproportionate towards opposition-leaning channels.
Armenia and Azerbaijan pledge progress as leaders meet in Sochi
Commenting on the meeting, Russian president Vladimir Putin said the leaders reached agreements on some of the key issues and that the meeting was overall positive.